Latch-opening device for knitting-machines.



H. SWINGLEHURST.

LATCH OPENING DEVIO'E FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

IUATIOH FILED MAY 14, 1907 Patented May 18, 1909.

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H. SWINGLEHURST. LATCH orsmim DEVICE FOR KNITTING mums.

APILIOATIOH PILED MAY 14, 1907.

Patented May 18, 1909.

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UNITED STAilES PAElENll OFFICE.

HAlRRY SWINGLEHUBST. OF PHILADELPHIA.

AND LOUIS N D. WILLIAMS, OF OGONTZ, PENN- SCOTT, OF LEEDS SYLVANIA.

romr'nnw JERSEY,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT W.

LATCH-OPENING DEVIOE FOB KNITTING-HAOHINE8..

Application filed May 14, 1am.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Pateuvfld May 18, 1909.

Serial No. 373,619.

that class-of machines inwhich certain of the needles are, durmg a part of the time, out of action and are held in a depressed or retractbeing moved into operativc relation to other needles of the machine for the reception of transferred stitches and the-realter operated to receive the knitting yarn as long as their active participation in the operat1on of the machine is required.

()ne object of my invention ist'o provide a. snnpleand efiicient form oi' latch opener for this purpose, and a furtherobject isto prevent any interference with the ordinary operation of the machine by the latch opener when the latter is not performing its intended function These objects 1 attain'inthe'manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in w 'ich- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of sufficient of a knitting machine to illustrate my present invention; Figs. '2 and 3 are similar views, but illustrating some'of the parts in different posit-ions, frointl'iat illustrated in F g. 1 Fig. 4 is a plan'viewof part of the machme, ant Fig. 5 1s a )erspective view of one of the latch-opening its detached from the machine. a Y V In the drawing, 1 represents part of the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine, and 2 certain needles guided therein in the usual manner, these needles being reciprocatcd by suitable cams in the ordinary way during the knittingoperaticn. In. machines of a certain type such as that for instance forming the subject of Lettcrs Patent- No. 834,763, dated October 30th, 1906, certain 01' the needles are temporarily put out of action by depressing them until their butts are out of r'ange'ol' the lmitting cams and are afterward broughtv into action again to-rcccive stitches and resume knitting, and it is in1- portant that when thus brought into action again their latches should be opened in order ers S'With which machines of naving de cams whic i are carried inner end, a laterally as shown in that the needles may present open hooks for the reception of the transferred stitches. In order to cfiect this result I mount upon the outside of the cylinder, some distance below the top of the same, a ring 3, which is radiall grooved for the reception and guidance of the latch opening jacks 4, this ring also, in the present instance, serving for the recTe tion and guidance of the reciprocatingweb holdthis type are usually provided, certain of the web holders, 1n the present instance, being guided in the same grooves as the latch openingbits, although a special groove for each may be provided if desired; The web holdersarereciprocated by camsin a ring 6 surrounding the cylinder, and this ring also carries cams 7, and 9 whereby reciprocating movement is imparted to the latch-ope mg bits 4, the latter vending lugs 10 for engaging said by an arm 11 secured to the inner side of a bracket 12 on the cam be mounted in any desired way without departing from the essential features of my invention.

Each of. the latch-opening bits 4 has, at its bent finger l3, preferably beveled or sharpened at tslowc-iipdgc Fig. 5, a-ndwhen the bit 'i's'prbjected by itscam' 9 the finger will occupy a position above the top of a depressed needle 2, whereby, when the latter is lifted in order to bring: it into action, the beveled or sharpencdlower, end of thefinger will pass between the hook of the-needle and the upper end of the closed latch, as shown in ig. l, and as the needle continues to rise will fully open the latch, as shown in Fig. 2, the hit loc-- ing then withdrawn as shown in Fig. 3, so as not to' interfere with the further upward movement of the needle or with the subsequent operation of the same or of any of the other parts of the machine.

In order to prevent the latches from com ing into contact with the stems of the latch opening, bits 4, during the opening movement, especially if the latches or needles are slightly bent or twisted. the stem of each bit is recessed at and near the finger 13, so as to clear the end of the latch during the swing oi having a transversely bent .for acting upon said latch,

, ent latch opening bit for each movable into and out of position to engage the latch of said needle, said movement bein in the same plane as that in which the latch swings.

2. The combination of a reciprocating needle of a knitting machine cylinder with a latch o' 3. T e combination of a reciprocating needle of aknitting machine with a latch opener finger for acting upon the latchzof the needle.

4. The combination of a reciprocating neeencr reciprocating in a radial plane.

,dle of a knitting-machine with a latch opener movable into and out of position to engage the latch, said latch opener having a finger for acting upon the latch, which finger is bent in a direction transverse to the direction of swing of the latch.

5. The combination of a reciprocating needlepf a knitting machine, with a latch opener, reciprocating 1n the same plane as that in which the latch swings, and having a finger which finger is bent in a direction transverse to'the direction of swing of the latch.

6. The combination of reciprocating needles of a knitting machine with an independent latch. opening bit for each of the needles to be acted upon.

7. The combination of reci rocating needles of a knitting machine with an independof the needles to be acted upon, and means for moving said name to this specification, in the bits into and out of position to engage the latches of the needles.

8. The'combination of reciprocating needles of a knitting machine with an independent latch opening bit for each of the needles to be acted u; on, and means for reciprocatmg said bits 1n a direction transverse to the plane of movement of the needles.

9. The combination of a needle carrier, reciprocating needles therein, web holders, latch openin bits, and a common carrier for said web hol ers and bits.

10. The-combination of a need e carrier, reci rocating needles therein, web holders, late 0 ening hits, a common carrier for said web ho ders and bits, and means for reciproeating said web holders and bits in said car- Her.

11. The combination of a needle carrier, reciprocating needles therein, reciprocating web holders, reciprocating latch opening bits, and a carrier having grooves serving for the reception and guidance in common of a web holder and latch opening bit.

12. The combination, of a reciprocating needle of a knitting machine with a latch opener having a-stem movab e in the same lane as that in which thelatch swings and aving a latch-engaging portion bent in a direction transverse to the swing ofthe latch, said stem being recessed at a point adjacent lto tge bend to clear the end of the swinging ate In testimony whereof, I have signed my presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY SWINGLEHURST. Witnesses:

HAMILTON D. TURNER, KATE A. BEADLE. 

